Introduction to Psychology
Introduction
What is psychology?
Psychology as a Field
What is psychology?
How did it begin?
What were the major influences?
What are the major perspectives today?
What are some of the specializations today?
Where do psychologists work?
How is psychology changing?
Psychology and Common Sense
Is psychology simply common sense?
Psychology: Defined
Psychology is the science that studies behavior and the physiological and cognitive processes that underlie
it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems.
Key components of this definition:
Science
Behavior
Mental Processes
How did the field develop?
Many psychological issues were first addressed from a philosophical perspective
Mind-body problem
Free will vs. Determinism
Nature-Nurture
Historical Approaches - Primarily developed from 2 areas
Western Philosophy (Empiricists)
Biology and Physiology (based on Scientific method)
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) - Professor of Physiology and later Philosophy
Often called the father of psychology
First Psychology Laboratory (1879) established at the University of Leipzig
Structuralism
Wundt: Identify structures of the mind
Analyze conscious processes into their basic simple elements of sensations, images, and feelings
Methodology: Introspection or self-observation (using trained people to describe and analyze their
conscious experiences)
American’s more interested in understanding how mental processes function to allow us to live and adapt
in the world (Child psychology, learning, disorders,
Functionalism - The study of living people as they adapt to their environment
William James (1842-1910) a pioneer of functionalism in the U.S.
James wrote The Principles of Psychology (1890)
Described the stream of consciousness, as opposed to the elements of consciousness
Psychology and Evolution
Charles Darwin (1859)
Natural Selection
There exists a constant struggle for resources
Nature will favor those traits that promote reproduction and survival
Environmental changes alter evolution’s course
Sigmund Freud - Psychoanalysis
Developed the psychodynamic perspective to personality theory and mental disorders.
Therapy known as psychoanalysis
“Interpretation of dreams” (1900) which focused on the unconscious
Believed that unconscious forces directed our everyday behavior
Free association, dream analysis were among the techniques used to explore the unconscious
Behaviorism - John B. Watson
In 1913 called for a scientific psychology that dealt only with observable behavior.
Rejected all mentalistic concepts and terms (e.g., image, mind, consciousness).
Used objective terms like stimulus and response.
Influenced by animal studies and associative learning (e.g., Pavlov and Thorndike).
Later, reinforcement, reward and punishment with B.F. Skinner.
Gestalt Psychology
Max Wertheimer (1880-1943) a pioneer of Gestalt Psychology
Also Koffka, and Kohler
Koffka (1935) “Principles of Gestalt Psychology”
Whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Major Current Psychological Perspectives
Biological
Behavioral
Psychoanalytic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
These approaches are complementary, not contradictory
They really represent different levels of analysis
The Biological Approach
Focuses on the brain and nervous system
Central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion
Neuroscience
Structure, function, development, genetics, biochemistry of the nervous system
The Behavioral Approach
Focuses on the environmental determinants of observable behavior
Notable Behaviorists: John Watson, B.F. Skinner
Early conflicts with cognitive psychologists
The Psychoanalytic Approach
Emphasizes unconscious thought, conflict between internal drives and society, and early family
experiences
All influence behavior, thought, and emotion
Notable Psychodynamic Theorists: Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Alfred Adler
The Humanistic Approach
Focuses on positive human qualities, capacity for self-actualization, free will
Developed in response to the behaviorist and psychodynamic approaches
Notable Humanistic Theorists: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
The Cognitive Approach
Emphasizes the importance of mental processes to problem solving, learning and memory
Mental processes control behavior through memories, perceptions, and thinking
The Evolutionary Approach
Emphasizes the relevance of evolutionary theory to all behavior and mental processes
Current function reflects changes that occurred in response to ancestral environments
Notable Evolutionary Psychologists: David Buss, Leda Cosmides, John Tooby
The Cultural Approach
Examines how social and cultural environments influence behavior and mental processes
In contrast to the evolutionary approach
Studies differences between ethnic and cultural groups within a country
Positive Psychology Movement - Martin Seligman
Humanist concerns revisited
Uses theory and research to better understand the positive, creative, and fulfilling aspects of human
existence
Positive subjective experiences, Positive individual traits, Positive institutions and communities
Basic and Applied Psychology
Many people hear the word “psychologists” and think strictly of mental health professionals
Clinical psychology makes up only 50-60% of the field
There are many different fields within psychology.
Some of these field focus on basic research that builds on psychology as a science and other field that
focus on applications of psychological principles.
Areas of Specialization
Specializations are not mutually exclusive
American Psychological Association
Abbreviated: APA
Currently 56 divisions / specializations
Areas of Research Specialization
Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology
Physiological Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Psychometrics
Learning
Areas of applied Specialization
Clinical Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
School and Educational Psychology
Other applied Specialization
Health Psychology
Community Psychology
Environmental Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Sport Psychology
Careers in Psychology
What do psychologists do? And where?
Business
Social and Human Services
Research
Education
Research Laboratories
Clinical and Private Practice Settings
